The  National  Building  Trades  and  Employers’  Ass’n  of  U.  S.  of  America. 


THIRD  ANNUAL  CONVENTION 


SECRETARY'S  ANNUAL 

REPORT. 


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Louisville,  Ky.,  January  21,  1914. 

To  the  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention: — 

I herewith  submit  my  report  as  Secretary  of  this  Association  for  the  fiscal  term  ending  with  this  Third 
Annual  Convention. 

FINANCIAL— 


To  Balance  from  Retiring  Treasurer $65.06 

Total  Receipts  736.38 


$801.44 

By  Total  Disbursements  . $515.06 

Balance  in  Treasury 286.38  $801.44 


PETTY  CASH— 


To  Balance  in  Hand  at  last  Annual  Report * $ 37.48 

Voucher  No.  19  $ 25.00 

Voucher  No.  33  35.00  60.00 

$ 97.48 

Balance  due  Secretary 3.68 

$101.16 

By  Postage,  Telephone,  Expressage,  Telegrams,  Traveling  Expense,  Etc $101.16 


At  the  last  annual  convention  held  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  March  26  and  27,  1913.  there  were  affiliated  with 
this  movement,  fourteen  exchanges.  At  that  convention  the  State  Association  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Builders’ 
Exchanges  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  Jacksonville,  Florida,  affiliated,  making  a total  of 
eighteen  exchanges.  During  the  year  there  have  been  added  to  the  roll  of  affiliated  associations  the  exchanges 
of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  Fall  River,  Mass.,  Omaha,  Neb.,  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  and  the  Master  Builders’  Association 
of  Baltimore,  Md.;  this  last  named  association  making  two  affiliations  from  Baltimore  with  promise  of  affiliation 
at  this  convention  from  the  Builders  and  Traders  Exchange  of  Chicago,  Ills.,  Builders  Exchange  of  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  Builders’  Exchange  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Columbus.  Ohio,  Nashville,  Tenn..  Evansville,  Ind.,  and  delegations 
from  exchanges  not  yet  affiliated  that  have  promised  to  attend  this  convention. 

STATE  COMMISSIONERS— 

State  Commissioners  should  be  appointed  from  every  state  to  perfect  our  organization  for  effective  work. 
Some  states  have  failed  to  nominate  to  the  Board  of  Control  their  commissioner,  through  we  believe,  a lack  of 
understanding  as  to  our  plan  of  Organization. 

Commissioners  have  been  appointed  in  the  following  states,  many  of  whom  will,  we  anticipate,  present  their 
reports  at  this  convention: 

Michigan — Chas.  A.  Bowen,  Detroit. 

New  Jersey — V.  P.  Christoffern,  Perth  Amboy. 

Georgia — J.  D.  Wood,  Atlanta. 

Alabama — G.  T.  Stafford,  Birmingham, 
r—  Pennsylvania — Edwin  S.  Williams,  Scranton. 

Maryland — S.  Frank  Bennett,  Baltimore. 

Kentucky — J.  M.  Vollmer,  Louisville.  ) 

District  of  Columbia — Chas.  A.  Langley,  Washington. 

I desire  to  call  attention  to  the  work  of  the  Commissioner  for  the  State  of  Michigan.  Mr.  Chas.  A.  Bowen, 
Secretary  of  the  Builders’  and  Traders’  Exchange  of  Detroit.  Mr.  Bowen  has  succeeded  in  organizing  a state 
association  in  Michigan  which  gives  every  promise  of  a live  organization. 

MISSIONARY  WORK—  r; 

During  the  year  your  President.  Vice  President  and  Secretary  have  made  visits  to  organizations  in  the  in- 
terests of  this  Association.  The  mailage  from  my  office  of  circular  matter  and  letters  has  been  at  times  very 
heavy.  The  correspondence  has  been  considerable,  and  has  not  been  as  promptly  cared  for  at  all  times  as  de- 
manded, due  to  the  limited  time  at  the  disposal  of  your  Secretary. 


ARCHITECTS’  PLANS  AND  CONTRACTS— 

At  the  Second  Annual  Convention  held  in  Washington.  D.  C.,  last  year  a resolution  was  adopted  to  appoint 
a committee  to  confer  with  a committee  from  the  American  Institute  of  Architects  to  consider  revising  and 
lessening  the  inconsistencies  and  ambiguities  of  the  so-called  “Standard  Documents”  now  being  introduced  by 
the  American  Institute  of  Architects.  Your  Secretary  immediately  took  this  matter  up  by  correspondence  with 
Mr.  Glenn  Brown,  then  Secretary  of  the  said  Institute,  and  was,  after  considerable  time  and  correspondence  with 
the  Chairman  of  the  “Conference  Committee”  of  the  Institute,  referred  to  Mr.  Grosvenor  Atterbury  of  New 
York  and  was  led  by  Mr.  Atterbury  to  anticipate  a meeting  in  the  early  fall.  In  order  to  be  prepared  for  this 
meeting  the  following  committee  from  our  Association  was  appointed: 

BALTIMORE — Herbert  J.  West,  E.  D.  Preston,  J.  Kemp  Bartlett. 

NEW  YORK  CITY — C.  C.  Norman,  First  Vice  President,  New  York  State  Association  of  Buildings. 

LOUISVILLE,  KY.— H.  L.  Lewman. 

PHILADELPHIA,  PA.— Franklin  M.  Harris,  Jr. 

No  definite  date  being  set  the  correspondence  was  continued  until  December,  when  Mr.  Atterbury  sug- 
gested a further  delay  because  of  the  Convention  of  the  American  Institute  of  Architects  to  be  held  in  New 
Orleans  during  that  month.  At  that  convention  Mr.  Knickerbocker  Boyd,  a prominent  architect  of  Philadelphia, 
was  elected  to  succeed  Mr.  Brown  as  Secretary  and  Mr.  Frank  Miles  Day  of  Philadelphia  was  made  Chairman 
of  'the  Committee  with  whom  our  Committee  will  we  anticipate  have  an  opportunity  to  confer.  Several  letters 
have  passed  between  Mr.  Dav  and  your  Secretary  and  I feel  assured  that  an  early  date  will  be  set  for  a meeting. 


STATE  ASSOCIATIONS— 

In  our  work  objections  have  been  made  to  joining  a National  Association  of  Exchanges  in  a few  state; 
where  State  Associations  exist;  this  objection  being  because  of  their  affiliation  with  the  state  associations.  If 
every,  or  even  the  majority  of  the  states  had  state  associations  and  these  associations  would  each  delegate  one 
representative  'to  a national  convention  the  organization  of  a national  cabinet  on  such  a basis  would  I believe 
solve  the  problem  of  national  organization,  but  in  the  absence  of  state  associations  (there  being  only  four  whose 
activities  entitles  them  to  claim  an  existence)  the  demands  of  a national  association  must  be  recognized  and 
a plan  adopted  for  its  consummation,  and  while  the  organization  of  state  associations  should  be  encouraged  and 
fostered  by  the  National  “There  is  a reason”  why  local  affiliation  with  the  national  should  be  encouraged  by  state 
associations,  in  this,  that  a state  association  affiliating  with  the  national  assumes  the  responsibility  of  whatever 
tax  or  dues  may  be  demanded  for  (the  state  association’s)  total  membership;  at  times  the  State  Association  being 
obliged  to  pay  for  delinquent  affiliated  exchanges  whereas  the  direct  affiliation  of  a local  Exchange  insures  to  it 
representation  from  its  own  ranks;  thereby  assuming  the  liability  for  dues,  tax,  etc.  As  your  Secretary  I have 
been  in  communication  with  every  exchange  of  record  in  this  country.  I have  been  unable_  with  the  time  at  my 
' cn-i'Us^,  Vo  T .''nii'>'i  'ncce-sary  uAi;i"‘t'o"cTa'i),ie’ in<rtT  report  stanstrcaVfU  as  Iwou’ig  Tuce  on  'conditions,  mem- 

bership, etc. 


PUBLICITY— 

I would  suggest  that  this  convention  consider  the  election  or  appointment  of  a publicity  committee,  and 
would  further  suggest  that  some  plan  be  devised  for  the  issuance  of  a monthly  publication.  I have  in  mind  that 
secretarys  or  those  interested  in  our  work  be  appointed  associate  editors  from  all  sections  of  the  country;  thus  in- 
suring from  these  associate  editors  brief  stories  of  conditions  in  their  various  localities — some  such  a publica- 
tion as  the  “Rotarian,”  the  official  organ  of  the  Rotary  Clubs.  The  results  possible  from  such  a publication  makes 
this  suggestion  worthy  of  careful  consideration.  It  is  my  thought  that  it  would  be  attractive  and  demand  con- 
sideration from  the  advertisers  who  desire  to  reach  those  connected  with  the  building  trades. 


OPPOSITION— 

No  undertaking  of  any  character  that  has  a purpose  worthy  of  consideration  has  ever  met  with  any  de- 
gree of  success  without  developing  some  opposition.  With  no  merit  in  a project  of  organization  there  will 
be  no  opposition.  Opposition  is  the  food  upon  which  the  growing  active  organization  feeds,  for  as  competi- 
tion is  the  life  of  trade,”  so  does  opposition  develop  the  merit  of  any  cause  and  produce  useful  organization. 
Organization  is  not  the  creature  of  imagination,  it  is  a live  active  being,  it  should  be  established  and  main- 
tained upon  high  ideals,  its  great  aim  should  be  the  betterment  of  the  greatest  number,  it  should  NOl  be  de- 
voted to  the  glorification  of  the  individual  or  to  personal  financial  benefit.  Organization  is  the  assembling  and 
mutualizing  of  interests  by  association  and  co-operation;  it  is,  in  fine,  a concentration  of  individual  effort  in  the 
direction  of  a general  distribution  of  responsibilities  to  the  end  of  practical  benefit.  Its  success  is  developed 
by  concentrated  effort,  its  power  should  be  in  the  distribution  of  the  maximum  benefit  at  a minimum  cost,  it 
should  be  constructive  and  not  destructive,  it  should  not  base  its  claims  for  recognition  upon  past  effort,  it 
has  no  actual  existence  when  “Dormant.”  Its  claims  for  recognition  and  existence  must  be  based  entirely  upon 
its  record  of  present  day  achievement.  The  greatest  opposition  to  our  movement  has  not  been  that  we  are 
wrong  in  our  plan  or  effort.  There  has  come  to  us  from  all  sections  a recognition  of  the  actual  need  of  national 
association.  Our  greatest  opposition  has  come  fron  a quarter  we  had  least  right  to  expect,  from  one  who 
was  formerly  an  officer  of  the  Old  National  Asscciation  now  inactive  and  in  effect  considered  extinct.  We 
see  no  reason  to  be  discouraged  by  this,  however,  as  an  analysis  of  his  communications  in  opposition  to  our 
movement  is,  briefly,  the  suggestion  that  it  has  teen  tried  before  and  the  machinery  and  equipment  of  our 
organization  being  the  same,  no  better,  there  is,  tl  erefore,  no  possibility  of  success,  and  having  failed  in  the 
first  no  support  should  be  given  to  the  efforts  of  tV is  Association.  That  through  an  effective  economical  plan 
of  national  organization  is  endeavoring  to  establ  sh  sane,  correct,  and  equitable  principles  in  the  business 
relations  between  all  who  are  in  any  way  connec  ed  with  the  building  trade.  Opposition  of  this  character, 


howeveVf  JiaAjeen  of  great  benefit  to  our  movement.  Had  we  studied  to  inaugurate  some  plan  to  attract  the 
attention  of  intelligent,  thoughtful  men  to  our  effort  nothing  could  have  been  devised  that  would  have  better 
served  our  purpose. 

EXPENSE— 

I desire  to  impress  upon  this  Convention  in  its  deliberations  the  importance  of  careful  consideration  to 
the  item  of  expense.  When  three  years  ago  in  Philadelphia  at  the  Convention  of  the  National  Association  of 
Builders’  Exchanges  (an  association  which  had  Come  into  existence  when  the  first  national  had  ceased  to 
be  active),  a Committee  on  Reorganization  was  appointed;  that  Committee  decided  to  organize  this  present 
Association  upon  a plan  to  avoid  burdensome  taxation  for  revenue  and  extravagant  entertainment  at  conven- 
tions which  had,  in  their  judgment,  caused  the  first  national  association  to  “Go  on  the  Rocks.”  This  Com- 
mittee believed  that  an  excessive  per  capita  tax  would  be  a hardship  upon  local  exchanges;  that  they  should 

profit  by  the  mistakes  of  previous  efforts;  the  most  serious  of  which  seemed  to  be  over-taxation,  recognizing 

that  when  overtaxation  burdens  a government  or  municipality  they  do  not  dissolve  or  become  dormant;  better 
systems  are  inaugurated,  methods  of  reform  and  retrenchment  take  the  place  of  extravagance,  and  the  burden 
being  lessened  the  government  or  municipality  continues  under  improved  conditions.  But  organizations  such 
as  ours  which  has  been  termed  “hetrogeneous,”  because  “local  exchanges  must  include  for  local  uses  that  great 
variety  of  elements”  being,  therefore,  mindful  of  the  mistakes  of  the  past  ^s  to  excessive  per  capita,  extravagant 
entertainment  and  organization  in  the  direction  of  restricted  central  control  we  must  recognize  the  right  of 
home  rule  to  every  affiliated  association,  distributing  our  effort  in  accordance  with  the  demand  of  the  various 
localities  absolutely  declining  to  be  influenced  by  the  use  of  any  antiquated,  unsuccessful  or  out-of-date 

methods  that  led  to  the  final  lack  of  support  and  to  the  ultimate  dissolution  of  the  first  National  Association, 

whose  greatest  monument  to  its  effort  and  usefulness  is  the  uniform  contract  now  in  use  and  the  loss  of 
whose  influence  has  been  felt  and  prompted  the  organization  of  this  Association.  A burdensome  expense  to 
local  exchanges,  many  of  whom  are  taxed  to  their  utmost  to  continue  their  existence,  means  non-affiliation  and 
consequently  lack  of  support,  and  no  national  association  has  a claim  to  recognition  based  upon  the  confession 
that  “Although  dormant  IS  NOT  OUT  OF  EXISTENCE.”  An  active  national  association  must  have  a dis- 
tributed membership  attracting  attention  and  support  to  a compact  governing  body,  its  officers  selected  by 
and  from  its  affiliated  associations  with  active  work  by  responsible  committees  within  the  limits  of  its  con- 
stituted authority.  In  considering  the  item  of  expense  I want  to  present  some  figures  of  record  of  the  first 
national  association.  A per  capita  tax  of  $3.00  with  the  exception  of  a few  years;  those  years  it  being  fixed 
at  $2.00.  Under  such  a tax  the  Baltimore  Exchange  would  today  be  paying  $975.00  per  annum.  It  is  need- 
less to  say  that  under  such  conditions  our  membership  in  this  National  Association  would  be  prohibitive;  it 
would  be  beyond  our  ability  even  with  our  present  loyalty  to  the  movement.  And  again,  regarding  this  sug- 
gestion of  expense  the  following  figures  are  taken  from  the  printed  reports  of  the  National  Association  of 
Builders’  Exchanges  for  the  years  of  1888-89-92-94-95-96.  These  reports  cover  a period  of  about  seven  years: 


The  total  amount  received  during  that  time  was  $49,216.85 

Total  disbursements  same  period  was $48,312.45 


Leaving  a balance  of $ 904.40 

Of  this  amount  there  was  received  by  the  Secretary  as  salary $23,541.77 

Salary  to  Assistant  Secretary 6,875.00 

Traveling  expense  of  Secretary 1,490.37 

Office  rent  1,914.56 


A total  of $34,726.10 


Nor  did  the  tax  upon  exchanges  stop  here.  A custom  prevailed  providing  for  lavish  entertainment  at 
conventions;  this  burden  falling  upon  local  exchanges.  The  expense  of  entertaining  to  local  Builders’  Ex- 
changes in  cities  where  conventions  were  held  for  six  annual  conventions  totaled  $51,256.44. 

I make  no  comment  or  criticism  on  these  figures — they  are  cold  indisputable  facts — IT  WAS  A CUSTOM. 
Only  let  me  suggest  that  as  careful  business  men,  you  have  a responsibility  to  avoid  these  excessive  overhead  ex- 
penses and  overburdening  tax  upon  Exchanges. 

From  this  information  you  will  appreciate  why  the  Reorganization  Committee  three  years  ago  and  your 
Board  of  Control  in  the  past  two  years  have  been  so  insistent  upon  an  economical  plan  of  administration  in 
the  affairs  of  this  Association.  Let  us  avoid  steering  this  craft  upon  the  fatal  rock  of  extravagance.  Another 
feature  of  the  plan  of  organization  as  adopted  by  the  first  national  convention  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  as  laid  down 
in  Article  3 of  our  plan  of  organization  is  “the  guarantee  to  associations  affiliated  with  this  National  Organiza- 
tion the  absolute  right  of  home  rule  in  the  adjustment  of  all  matters  pertaining  to  labor  or  questions  of  a 
local  nature  which  might  arise  in  their  respective  localities,  this  National  Association  holding  itself  in  readiness 
to  at  all  times  assist  in  any  way  possible  when  called  upon  by  the  proper  officer.”  Copies  of  the  Plan  of  Or- 
ganization have  been  so  generally  distributed  among  the  exchanges  of  the  country  that  further  reference  to  the 
general  plan  need  not  be  made  in  this  report.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  plan  adopted  has,  through  persistent 
distribution,  attracted  the  attention  of  those  interested  in  organization  and  has  been  pronounced  by  those  who 
have  studied  modern  conditions  a comprehensive  proposition  upon  which  to  build  an  effective  national  organiza- 
tion. 

From  the  beginning  of  time,  organization  has  been  a condition  of  man’s  existence;  it  has  come  down  to  us 
crowned  by  the  laurels  of  its  successful  past;  it  behooves  us  in  this  day  and  generation  to  accept  its  record 
as  a gift  to  be  continued  on  and  on  in  the  histories  of  centuries  yet  to  come.  It  comes  to  us  as  a heritage  of 
our  forefathers,  a legacy  so  flexible  in  its  character  as  to  admit  of  being  molded,  “even  as  the  potter  molds 
his  clay  to  the  demands  of  his  deft  and  artistic  touch,”  so,  we  accepting  it  as  the  result  of  successful  experiment 
mold  it  by  our  constituted  law  and  rules  to  meet  the  demand  of  our  varied  interests,  let  us  hope  to  be  endowed 
with  a spirit  of  unity  of  purpose  in  the  progressive  advancement  of  the  principle  of  “live  and  let  live,”  of  fair 
dealing,  of  unswerving  loyalty  to  our  officers  and  through  them  to  this  Association,  through  this  Association 
to  the  Exchanges  which  are  affiliated  with  it  and  which  are  the  main  requisites  for  the  continued  success  of 


this  body.  Let  us  have  a singleness  of  purpose.  An  organization  should  not  waste  its  effort  in  vain  attempts 
to  accomplish  too  many  things  at  once — a few  things  well  done  are  far  better  than  many  things  not  well  done, 
therefore,  let  us  concentrate  our  efforts  on  one  th  ng,  do  it  well,  then  on  to  the  next. 

I want  to  thank  the  officers  and  members  for  the  confidence  reposed  and  the  honor  that  has  been  con- 
ferred upon  me.  In  exchange  for  that  confidence  I have  given  to  the  duties  of  my  office  the  best  that  I had, 
in  this  way  my  time  and  effort  has  been  my  contr  bution  to  this  cause.  The  Builders’  Exchange  of  Baltimore 
City,  of  which  I have  the  honor  to  be  Secretary,  has  been  generous  with  me  in  the  disposal  of  my  time;  they 
have  been  interested  in  and  have  supported  this  m vement,  not  to  please  and  encourage  me,  but  because  they 
believed  in  national  associated  effort. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  I shall,  with  the  clo:ing  of  this  convention,  surrender  the  cares  and  responsi- 
bilities of  this  office  to  my  successor,  I am  going  to  ask  that  a committee  be  appointed  to  pass  upon  this,  my 
last  annual  report,  desiring  that  their  findings  shall  be  returned  to  the  convention  for  record. 

In  closing  I want  to  say  that  an  association  such  as  ours  has  many  functions  to  perform  and  great  oppor- 
tunities for  good.  Its  highest  ideals  are  easy  of  accomplishment  if  we  will  but  remember  the  words  of  the 
sage — “that  as  the  diamond  is  polished  by  the  diamond  dust,  so  must  the  minds  of  men  depend  for  their 
illumination  upon  their  contact  with  kindred  minds,”  so  will  the  heart  and  very  souls  of  men  be  transformed 
by  co-operation  where  there  is  an  Association  such  as  ours,  based  as  it  is  upon  a unification  of  interests.  Let 
us  take  the  lesson  of  unity  from  the  beautiful  form  of  our  national  government,  of  which  every  loyal  citizen  of 
our  beloved  country  is  justly  proud — the  individual  citizen  alone  and  unaided  can  do  but  little,  the  state  is 
mighty,  but  a confederation  of  them  all  is  all-powerful,  and  every  just  demand  that  they  may  make  ij\  the 
name  of  a united  nation  will  be  accorded  them,  so  it  is  with  us.  This  organization  can  and  will,  through  an 
association  of  its  kindred  organizations  with  intell  gent  co-operation  control  the  destinies  of  building  con- 
ditions and  every  just  demand  that  they  may  make  in  the  name  of  a united  association  will  be  accorded  them. 

For  myself  in  retiring  to  the  ranks  I pledge  my  unswerving  loyalty  to  the  principles  and  purposes  which 
have  brought  us  together.  I shall  always  have  the  most  pleasant  recollections  of  my  association  with  my  su- 
perior officers,  who  have  at  all  times  been  considerate  and  courteous.  I bespeak  for  my  successor  the  same 
pleasant  relations,  and,  although  not  in  an  official  sense,  your  Secretary  shall  be  pleased  to  render  to  him  and 
to  this  Association  and  its  officers  any  assistance  in  my  power  being  at  all  times  at  the  command  of  our  chief. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

I.  HERBERT  SCATES, 

Louisville,  Ky.,  January  21,  1914.  Secretary. 


